Camera and method of photography



Dec. 30, 1930. J. F. 'sErrz 1,787,023

CAMERA AND METHOD OF PHOTOGRAPHY Fiied Nov. 22, 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 1 DeC. 30, 1930. J; F. SEITZY 1,787,023

CAMERA AND METHOD OF PHOTOGRAPHY Filed Nov. 22, 1926 :5 Sheets-Shut 2 Dec. 30, 1930. Y J. F/SEITZ v 1,737,023

. CAMERA AND METHOD OF PHOTOGRAPHY Filed Nov. 22, 1935. 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 QDUODDUD 224152115561? do 112,1 7 LS, e L

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Joiam r. sm'rz or HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA omens AND M THOD or rrro'roemrrry Application filed November a2, 1926. Serial No. 149,937.

My invention pertains to cameras, particutures of the harmonious and inharmonious larly motion picture cameras, and in the parts of the scene. After this picture is demethod of photography, particularly the veloped, one of the lenses may be shifted and photography of moving pictures. a pro ecting lamp substituted therefor. The

An ob ect of my invention is the condeveloped picture is then projected on a struction of a camera whereby photographs screen which ma be utilized to form the may be taken through different lenses on the mat and the mar ing for outlining the mat same film'or plate at the same time in which, may be made to correctly photograph parts if desired, the difierent pictures may be supwhich will harmonize when the mats are set In erimposed one on the other, or may be matted up in proper relation to-the lenses. The deseparately and in a manner complementary veloped picture may be projected through to each other, so that when brought together either lens. on the same film they will make. a composite In another procedure separate pictures picture. I through each lens, on strips of film, may be 15' A more specific object of my invention is taken, then after development, these may be the construction of a camera with two lenses projected on screens by transposing the located at substantially right angles to each lamps in place of the lenses and marking the other, one lens being used to photograph discreen to delineate the she e of the mat. rectly on the film or plate, the other lens Many uses could be ma e of a cam ra so "0' photographing by meansof a prism. The equipped. g film may be sensitized on both sides so that One use of this camera and method of phothe pictures could be taken on opposite sides tpgraphy is in taking a photograph of a relaof the same, but generally only one side will tlvely naccessible or dangerous scene, such be, or need be, sensitized. The, light from as a natural scene in which the actors would 25 one lens affects the sensitive emulsion directhave great difficulty in acting in the natural ly, the light from the other lens reflecting location. By this method, one lens is focused through the prism afiects the emulsion on a natural scene, for example; a waterfall, through the celluloid side. sixty feet in height, and the other lens is f0- A further object of my. invention. is the cused on the actors on a tight rope about three 30 construction of a camera with lenses at subfeet from the ground. The undesired porso stantially right angles to each other, one lens tions of these scenes are matted ofi', the mats having the film directly behind it, the other complementing each other and the composite lens reflecting light on the film through a thus formed shows the actors walking across prism, these lenses being so arranged as to the sixty foot Water-fall.

35 be easily removable in turn. Two special Another use of this camera and method projecting lamps, one'for each lens, are so would be in utilizing a small photograph, I mounted onthe camera that they can be con-. painting or model, for the greater portion of veniently swung into position and substituted a. setv or location for a motion picture, buildfor the lenses. This-is an important feature ing asmaller portion of the set or location in I 40 of the camera whereby parts of the separate full size to accommodate theaction, one lens scenes can be matted in a manner complemenis focused on the action, the other on the small tary to each other so-that when brought tophotograph, vpainting or model, both scenes gether on the same film they will make a are matted as desired, and brought together composite picture. on the same film and same frame to form the r 45 A further object of my invention is in the desired com osite picture. v method of making mats for motion pictures, In order 0 obtain the proper mats and and in one procedure, simultaneous photoshape of the set, a photograph, painting, orgraphs may be taken through both of the model may be used; a photograph may be lenses on the front and back of the same takenof the small photograph, paintingor 50 frames of the film and showing complete picmodel and of the full size part of the location, 1o:

these bein taken through the different lenses, the films eveloped and then by transposing the projecting lamps for the lenses, the developed ictures may be projected on the screen in or er to obtain the outline for the proper complementary mats.

-A further use of this camera and method would be in the superimposing of titles on backgrounds of any kind, painted, modeled or real; one lens photographing the title, the other the background:

A still further use of the camera and method would be in bringing to ether different scenes without matting, use ul in depicting scenes of chaos, confusion, for dreams and weird effects of all kinds.

A still further use of this camera and method would be to place one or even two developed films, having a desired picture or-design, in the camera in contact with a sensitive film and using the light received, by one or both of the lenses to print on this sensitive Another use of thiscamera and method would be to place one or two developed films in the camera, each one having a certain design or icture and also a clear space in contact wit a sensitive film and with the light film 5. The film is operated by the usual moving icture camera mechanism, this being actuate by a crank 6.. It is not necessary to describe the construction or operation of the film moving mechanism in detail as this is of a standard character, nor is it necessary to describe the type of shutter used with the lens 4 as this is also of theordinary constructiom in the artand form no part of my invention so far as one side of the camera is concerned, as I use standard and known equipment which it is not necessary to detail' in full.

The construction for taking the side or auxiliary ictures is substantiall as follows, having re erence to Figs. 1, 2 an 3:

A gate 7 forms one side of the camera or is secured to such side and it is preferably hinged so that same may be opened. This received by one or both lenses effect a photogate carries a suitable'lens holder 8 in which graphic exposureand print the impression of alens assembly 9 may be secured. The holdthe developed. filmson' the sensitive film simultaneously.

. My invention in its various characteristics will be more readily understood from the following descriptionand drawin s, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view, part y in section, of a moving' picture camera construction in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is lafront elevation taken in the direction of the arrow 2 of Fig. 1, partly broken away.

Figure 3 is an interior side elevation taken in the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 1, with the side gate and the side lens removed.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of my camera set up with mats placed exterior thereto, there being a mat in front of the lower part ofthe front lens and a mat in front of the upper part of the side lens, such mats cutting l off of parts of the pictures taken through eac the lenses.

i 5 is a perspective view illustrating a use of m camera, one lens photographing the waterall and the vessel in front of the falls and the other lens photographingthe actor on the tight rop'e.

Figure 6 is a frame of a film illustrating the tyilia picture of the scene of'Fig. 5.

e erring articularly'to the camera construction of igs. 1, 2 and 3,- the ordinary moving picture camera is designated by the numeral 1, having a. turret/2 on the front with a'senes of lenses 3, a articular one of" the lenses designated -by t e numeral 4 being shown in operative position in front of the er may be of any standard type and the lenses 1 also of the standard type to fit the holder.

A prism 10 is mounted in the camera by any suitable supporting structure, there eing light assages 11 and 12 leading from the lens assem l 9 to the prism and from the prism to the film 5 A holder for a mat 13 is positioned adjacent the prism sothat a suitable mat may be inserted to block on part of the picture projected through the lens assembly 9. A suitable'h older for a mat 14 is also located behind the main lens assembly 4 so that part of the picture taken through such lens may be blocked ofi. I

,The main sprocket 15 of the moving pictufe camera has the usual shaft 16 and on, the end of this shift w gear 17 is mounted. This drives a inion 18, mounted on the pinion shaft l9, ournaled in a suitable bracket 20, this bracket being suitably supported in the camera. A driven gear 21 is connected to the pinion shaft to operate with the pinion and drives a shutter operating gear 22, this being mounted on a shaft 23, which is journaled in a suitable journal box 24, this journal box being likewise suitably supported by the structure of. the camera. A shutter 25 is connected to the shaft 23 and gives the exposure by taking pictures through the lens assembly 9. In'Fig. -3 the open part of the shutter is designated by the numeral 26, exposing the light passage 11 and the mat 13 positioned to as above mentioned, operated in a standard manner wh1ch forms no immediate part of my invention and the film is also, as above "mentioned, shifted in a standard and known manner, and hence need not be described in detail, this movement of the shutter and film being developed through turning the 9 will be blocked off. In Fig. 2 it will be seen that the mat 14 cuts ofi' the upper part of the picture taken through lens 4 and in Fig. 3 that the mat 13 cuts off the lower part of the picture taken through the lens assembly 9. The film, as above described, may be sensitized on both sides or on only the one side as is the common practice. The film operates in the normal manner and both of the shutters work in synchronism in order to expose both of the lenses at the same time so that a simultaneous picture is taken throu h both of the lens assemblies on the frame of t e film immediately behind the lens assembly 4.

In Fig. 4 I illustrate a set up for my camera in which the front of the camera having the lens assembly 4 has a mat 30 positioned on a suitable support 31 in front of the lens. This mat is shown as substantially covering the lower part of the lens so that a photograph may be taken through the upper part of the lens 4. The side orauxiliary lens 9 has a mat 32 positioned in front' of same, this mat being held in a suitable supporting structure 33 and covers the upper part of the lens so that a picture may be.

taken through the lower part. These mats may have irregular contours as indicated by the numeral 34 and may be made in any suitable manner. It is intended that the mats be especially shaped in their contour or outline in order to block out. the desired parts of the total scene or act viewable through each of the lenses and by having the mats on the supporting structure outside of the camera, these may be positioned with sufficient accuracy so that the two pictures when taken on the one film will harmonize and give the effect as if photographed at one and the same time.

In Fig. 5 I indicate a use of my camera in which the camera is indicated generally by the numeral 35 and the mats by the numerals 36 and 37. The natural scenery has a water. fall 38 with a vessel 39 in front of such fall and it is desired to photograph the water fall and at the same time a tight rope walker 40. This tight rope walker may walk 011 a rope 41 stretched between towers 42, these being located in a safe position where should he fallbut little injury would be had and in a convenient place for taking a photograph. a

' he mat 36would be s ecially cut or of such contour as to mat or lock out the part of the natural scenery above the water fall and the mat 37 would be designed to mat out the part of the natural landscape below the tight rope and the tight rope walker, therefore a photograph taken through the twolenses of my camera will give a picture depicting both scenes. This is indicated on a frame 43 of the film 44 in which the tight rope walker appears to be walking across a rope stretched across the water fall.

It will thus be seen that with my camera and my method of taking-pictures it is fairly simple matter to depict acts as if performed in very dangerous positions or positions diificult of access and that the actors may be 1n locations where they can easily perform and in comparative safety. It is to be understood,

however, that my camera and the method of taking pictures is not limited to those of this character as many other uses will be suggested to those familiar with the art -of motion picture photography.

It will be obv1ous that the details of the' camera may be changed, there being no ab solute necessity that the lenses be located at right angles to each other the particular mountin drawings. The metho illustrated in the of operation also may be altered in accordance with the type of picture being photographed.

In order to have a ready means ottransposing the lenses and placing proJecting lights to shine through the film, on the front of the camera on the turret 2 I preferably remove one of the lenses and insert a lamp 45, which may be connected to an electric circuit in any suitable manner. Thus if it is desired to project a picture through the side lens 8, it is only necessary to rotate the turret 2, shifting the lens 4 so that the light from the lamp will shine through the film, be reflected in the prism, and projected on a screen or the like through the lens 9, or a projecting lens substituted in its place.

The gate 7 at the side of the camera is also preferably arranged so that a light can be transposed for the lens 9 at the side of the prism. To affect this, I preferably c and may be connected in any suitable manner to a source of electric power. Therefore, byv

or that they have turning the disc in the gate 7 the lens may be' shifted from its position adjacent the prism and the lamp substituted, whence light i may be reflected by the prism and projected through the film and the lens 4, or another lens substituted for same.

By this construction the camera may be uti- 1 pear from the above description.

' It is to be understood that my camera may be used in various ways other than those described above, For instance, sometimes it is inconvenient to take, the pictures "through both the main and the auxiliary lens at the same time and in such cases a picture may be taken through one lens, using a suitable mat,

the film may then be rewound, and the second picture taken through the second lens, using a suitable mat, so t at the two pictures will appear on each of the frames of the film.

In order to form accurate mats in taking com lementary pictures which are to be united on t e same frames of the same film to complete effect, it is desirable that the camera be left in position after taking a short strip of each 0 the complementary parts of the picture, and during the develo ment of these strips. In the projection o the pictures formed from these trial strips, if done out of doors, a tent may be placed over the camera so that the screens on which the projection is made is in the dark, or by usingv sufliciently powerful lamps the rojected trial pictures may be sufiiciently bright for the purpose of forming accurate mats. When the camera is used in studio work in taking pictures, after taking the trial pictures and projecting these on sultable screens the studio may be darkened. It. will, therefore, be seen that by the ready means which I have developed for first taking pictures in two different directions on the same frame of the same film and, after development of such trial pictures, projecting these on two screens, that I have eifected a procedure which enables mats to be made with 7 great accuracy, hence simplifying the procedure in taking complementary pictures to form a composite motion picture.

A suitable enclosure and screen for pro'ecting the developed trial pictures for ma 'ng the mat is disclosed in my Patent No. 1,576,854, Method of making motion picture film, patented March 16, 1926, and Patent No.

1,616,237, Method of making motion pictures,

patented February 1, 1927.

Various changes may be made in the pungive a ciples' of my invention without departing from the s irit thereof, as set forth in the description, rawings and claims.

I claim:

1. A combination camera and projector comprising a camera structure having a main lens, a film holder to receive light directly through the lens on the film, an auxiliary lens in the side of the camera, means to reflect light passing through the auxiliary lens on the back of the film, and a lamp holder secured in the side of the camera and shiftable to replace the auxiliary lens in relation to the reflector whereby light may be projected from the holder and reflected through the film and throu h the main lens.

2. combination camera and rojector comprising a camera havinga shifta le turret with a main lens and a first lamp holder mounted therein, a film holder directly behind the lens, the first lamp holder being shiftable into the position of the lens, a side wall for the camera having a rotatable structure thereon, said structure having an auxiliary lens and a second lamp holder, a reflector to receive light through the auxiliary lens and reflect same onto a film in the film holder,

the turret and rotar structure being shiftable independently w ereby light may be projected through either the main or the auxiliary lens.,;.

3. A combination camera and projector comprising a camera structure having a pair of lenses positioned at an; angle to each other,

means to hold a film to receive light directly from one of the lenses on one side, a reflecting means to reflect light from the other lens on the opposite side of the film and on the same frame thereof, simultaneously operating shutters for each of the lenses, means to shift the film, each of the lenses being mounted on a turret-like structure, projecting lamps mounted on each turret-like structure, and

means to shift said turret-like structures to re- 1 place either of the lenses by a lamp structure to project light from the lamp through the lens retained in the camera and projector.

4. The method of making mats comprising making trial photographs on strips of film through a plurality of lenses positioned at an angle to each other in a camera-like structure, developin such strips of film and replacing same in t e same camera-like structure, and rojecting light in the same path traversed y 1i ht through one of the lenses in taking the otograp 3, said light passing through the developed film and following the path of the other lens and utilizing the projected plcture in the formation of a mat. 1

5. The method of making mats comprising taking photographs on strips of film in a camera-like structure through a air of lenses positioned at an an le to each ot er, developmg said strips" of replacing one of the lenses by a projecting lamp and projecting the light from such lamp through the developed film and through the other lens retained in the camera-like structure and utilizing the projected icture in the formation of a mat.

6. T e method of making mats comprising taking photographs on opposite sides of a film in a camera-like structure, one of said photographs being taken through an opening I facing the film, the other being taken through another opening and by reflection on the opposite side of the film, developing the film and replacing in the same'camera-like structure, then positioning a projecting lamp at one of the openings and projecting a light from the lamp through one of the openings through the developed photograph and through the other opening and utilizing the projected picture in the formation of a mat.

7. The method of making matscomprising taking a plurality of photographs of different objects on a film in a camera-like structure through openings at an angle to each other, developing the photographs and replacing the developed film in the cameralike structure, then projecting a light through a first opening and through the film and through the second opening, and subsequently projecting another light through the second opening, through the developed film and through the first opening and utilizing the projected picture in the formation of a mat.

8. In a method of making mats, exposing a film to two component parts of a icture simultaneously, one part photographing on one face and the other on'the other face of the emulsion or-film, developing the film, projecting a picture of the developed film on a screen and utilizing suchprojected picture in making a mat,

9. In a method of making mats, exposing a film in a camera to two component parts of a picture, one part photographing on'one face and the other on the other face of the emulsion or film, developing the film'and reture mounted on one side of the camera and having an auxiliary lens, a reflecting means in the camera to reflect light from the auxiliary lens on to the film, a lamp holder on the shiftable structure adapted to replace the auxiliary lens, whereby light may be projected from the lamp by the reflector through the film and main lens.

12. A combination camera and projector comprising a camera structure having a shiftable device on the front thereof, said device having a main lens and a lamp holder,-a film holder to receive light directly through the main lens, a reflector, an auxiliary lens projecting light on the film by the reflector, the shiftable structure being adapted to replace the lamp holder for the main lens, whereby light may beprojected from the lamp holder through the film and by means of the reflector through the auxiliary lens.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. JOHN F. SEITZ.

placing in the camera, the camera being in the same-position as when making the exposures and projecting a icture by a projector light passing through t e film in either direction, and utilizing the picture projected on the screen in making a mat.

10. In a method of making mats, exposing a film in a camera to two component parts of a picture simultaneously, one part photographing by direct light on one face and the other by reflectedlight on the other face of the emulsion or film, developing the filmand replacing in the camera, then projecting a picture of the developed film on a screen and utilizing the projected picture in-making a mat.

11.. A combination camera and projector, comprising a camera structure having a main lens, a film holder to receive 1i htdirectly through the lens on the film, a shi table struc- 

